Press-stitcher sewing machine



u'g. 15, 1939 g m/HEFFRON PRESSSTITCHER SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19,1938 INVENTOR Wil/dm Eef/rom BY .a

TTORNEY Patented Aug.' 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE j A2,169,528Y raEssLs'rrrcnEa SEWING MACHINE William Hei'fron, Bronx, N. Y.Application September 19, 1938, Serial No. 230,605 9 claims. (01. 11e-169) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apress-stitcher sewing machine, and relates particularly to uniqueness ofdesign and operation thereoi.-

The invention has for an object the construction of a machine which ischaracterized by a U-shaped casing adapted to be engaged in ones handwith the arms oi' the casing extended horlzontally with ones thumb orother finger at the top, and-a specific sewingfmachine mechanism mountedwithin the casing adapted tobe operated by manipulation of the thumb orother nger. The feature of the sewing machine resides in the fact thatit may be held in one hand and operated by said hand to sewmateriais. v

The invention proposes to so arrange the parts of the sewing machinethat material to be sewed may be engaged between thearms of theU-shapedv casing.

Furthermore, the invention proposes the provision of a thumb wheelrotatively mounted within the casing and having a portion of itsperiphery extendedI from the casing and adapted to be turned to tur'n aily wheel for starting the machine in the right direction. v

Another object o f the -invention resides in the provision of a rodeccentrically connected with the fly wheel of themachine, and springsassociated with the rod in acertain vmanner to' prevent the ily wheelfrom stopping at a'- dead position.

Furthermore, new and useful features of this l invention reside in thedesign and operation of the machine; meaning the general shape, com

pactability and portability, its method of operation by thumbor lingerand handling withone hand; a novel folding down needle bar depressor, anew methodof elevating and keeping elevated the pressure foot; crankassisting springs that give permanent direction to the crank turningapparatus; a thumb wheel that permits of starting the mechanism orreversing the direction; a new methodof holding the` thread spool andgiving tension 4varia'bly and a new type pulling device.

For further comprehension and arrangement of a thread oi' ,theinvention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref

erence will be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing,and to the appended claims. in which the various' novel features of theinvention are more particularlyset forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a press-stitcher adjusted lto the threadthereon, Y

`body of the casing.

- terior mechanism.

sewing machine constructed according to this invention and shownv inones hand ready i'or operation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sewing -ma-v chine per se viewedfrom a Vdifferent angle with the 5 cover open.l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view the sewing machine shownin Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. lo

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the Fig. 6 -ls a fragmentaryperspective view of the top thread puller and adjacent parts.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detailed view of a poru tion of Fig. 3 showingparticularly the top thread holding andtensioning means.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction oi'the line 8 0 oi' .'i'ig` 4.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed view oi' a portion 20 of Fig. 4.

The press-stitcher sewing machine includes a substantially U-shapedcasing I0 adapted to be engaged in oz.' t; hand with the arms III'L andIb thereof extended 'horizontally and with ones 25 thumb or other fingerat the top. A needle bar means is mounted through the top arm I l' oi'the casing and includes if. vertically. extended needle bar ii forsupporting a needle I2. 'I'his needle bar I I has a concave head Ilagainst which 30 ones thumb or other finger may be rested, as s hown inFig. 1, to depress the same. This concave head I3 is pivotally supportedby a pintle Il on the upper end oi' the needle bar I I. Stop elements I5and I 8 are l'or'med respectively on 35 the concave head I3 and theneedle bar II for limiting pivoting oi.' these parts to a verticalposition from a horizontally extended position. 'Ihe arrangement is suchthat when the sewing machine is not used the concave head I3 may be 40folded down to decrease the compass o1' the machine and it may repose ina cavity inc formed in the top'of the casing III, for this purpose.

The casing I0 isof hollow construction and is adapted to house themechanism of the sewing machina' as hereinafter more fully described.

The casing is provided with a frontcover Illd which is supported byseveral hinges I1 to the This l:front cover may be opened as illustratedSeveral clips Il' are xed on the cover and are engagea'ble with theheads of screws |01 on the'casing Ilfor holding the cover, resilientlyclosed. v A pressure ioot'means is mounted in the top 55- in Fig. 2 toexpose the 1n- 50 a pintle I! pivotally arm It'l of the casing andincludes a pressure foot il having a foot portion Il'b engageableagainst the top face of the bottom arm Il of the casing. The shankportion Ill of the pressure fooil extends upwards through the top armIt' oi.' the casing. At an intermediate point a Z-shaped stud l!projects from pressure foot and acts against the top wall of the casingand the stud llfor resiliently urging the pressure foot downwards. Thestud il passes through a slot 2| formed in the casing Il. A

head 22 nxedly engages upon the stud Il. The

slot 2l has an offset top end, see Fig. 8, adapted to receive the studI0 for holding the pressure foot in a raised position when required. Toraise the pressure foot the head is forced upwards to compress thespring 2l and lift the pressure foot, and the head 22 is moved laterallyto engage the stud in the oil'set portion of the slot and so hold' thepressure 'foot in a raised position.

A cloth feeder means is mounted in the'bettom karm of the casing .and isextendible through the top face thereof-to be cooperative with thepressure foot. This'cloth feeder means includes a toothed cloth feederbar 2l arranged immediately belowv the inner face of the top wall of thearm ltboi' the casing and engageable through openings 24 in'this topwall. The toothed member 2l is mountedon a ilat body 2l which isslidably supported in a particular mannerby a screw 2l* mountedpn ablock 4l and engaging a vertical slot II formed in the body 2l, topermitthe body 2l to pivot as well as slide vertically. .Acam 2l isvfixed on a shaft Il rotative through the block 4I." -This cam 2t engagesan opening 21 in the e Si turns, the cam 20 Vworking'in the opening 21will pivot the frame t the screw 2l* and simultaneously raise and lowerbody to move the toothed member 23 through amotion for feeding theshould b e noted thatthe camz will then merely idle through a portion ofthe Owning 21. In

-this manner the length ofthe stitch of the sewying machine may becontrolled.

'The needle .bar Il is slidably mounted throughthe casing, andintermediate the compass of the top arm, connects a lever I4 with aportion of the needle bar. This lever 34 is piv-v otally mountedintermediateof its ends by a pintie lvl upon a bracket 3l which isstationarily mountedwithinthecasing. Therearendofthe lever ai informedwith a heu lernt as connecting the top arlli il* of of its ends,l withinit with a red a1 aceentriceny pivoteny connected by a ball joint 3luponafly wheel Il. This fly wheel is fixed on the shaft 3l. The shaft Ilis rotatively supported .in a block 4t `iixedly the easing. Theamusement is such that when the fly wheel Il is started rotating it is.an easy matter to press down with the 7s thumb or other finger on thehead i3 of the needle the side Vof the pressure foot. lA spring 2l iscoaxially mounted upon the ranged ,on opposite Y flat body 2l. Thisopening 2'Iv is of a width wider than'the cam. Thearrangeengalresthroughnv yof-t'hread I2. The spindlelis free to turn onthe spindle. 'has a reduced end Il Vwhich Lag'ainst lthe 91| brs againstvone face ofthe spool l2. vThe bar and add a turning' torque to the fiywheel. When the eccentric rod 31 reaches the top o! its, stroke,pressure is released from the thumb head Itlso that the 'momentum of theturning parts and a spring 531 lifts the needle bar il to its topposition. The spring 31* is coaxial on the bar Il and acts between a.pin'lb on theV rod and a portion of the casing Il. Additional energy`may now be applied-to the turning mechanism by pressing down withthethumb or finger on the head i3.

An'arrangement is provided for preventing the eccentric rod Il fromstopping ata dead" point. This means ,includes a pair of springs 4i, 42arsides of the .vertical central Each of these springs is fixits endsupon the wall of line of the rod 31. edlvy mounted at one of the casingle.. l rod 31 when the rod is in its top position.- The spring 42 actsagainst the rod Il when it is in its bottom position. 'Ihese springstend to push the rod N past the dead center at the top and at the bottomof the stroke. j

A thumb wheel mechanism is provided -for starting the ily wheel 3lrotating in the proper' direction. cludes a thumb wheel 4I rotativelymounted The spring 4I acts against the thumb wheel mechanism in` upon ashaft 44 supported'by the block 40. -,A`

gear teeth which Vmesh with' a pinion 4l fixed upon the shaft 3l. The 44is pivotally mounted in the block 4l.

vA pintle 44* serves to pivotalysupport` the inner endv of the shaft 44vwithin a cavity 4l* formed in the block 4I. A spring 40 has a por tioncoaxially arranged on'thetpintle 44.* and has one of its ends ensuingtbl@ shaft 44'and its other end engaging a lug .41 mounted upon theeasing il. The spring acts to normally p'fvot the shaft 44 against thelug 41 so that the gear teeth upon .the thumb wheel 4l are out of meshwith the teeth of the pinion 4l. -When one places his thumbagainst theprojecting end of the thumb the spring -40 thumb wheel 48 with thepinion 4l. -Rotations ofthe thumb wheel will then be transmitted to thepinion 4l for starting'. the machine in a direction desired. and whenthe machine is normally running, the thumb wheel 48 will be in an idlecause of the" cavity il' inthe casing Il. lat no time will thethumbjwheel 48 project outside of the sidewall o f the casing.

A spindle Il is mounted thecasing Il andris adapted to support a spoolil is oi'cvai shape in transverse cross section as indicated inlllg. '1.

-A ilat spring 'Il ,is riveted upon the inner end of the spindle Il andwill beheld non-rotative because of the shape of the spindle.. The spooll2 'Ihe spindle It projects through the wall of the casing I4. Anadiustment nut I3 wheel 4I., he will oppose the` action of and engagethe gear teeth of the `portion or the periphery' of the thumb wheel nWhen the machine is not in use.

is thr'eadedlyl mounted on the end ll'L and bears wall of the casing Il.The spring such .thatthe nut 53 may be arrangement is the pressure ofthespring 1I turned to. control y against the side of the spool i2. Inthis manner vthe te on of the l2 may becontrolled.. 7g

forming a loop within the bottom arm of the casing. A looper wheel 51 ismounted upo the shaft 3| and is formed with a hook portion adapted tocatch the loop of the thread. l

'Ihis looper wheel 51 is adapted to `form a chain stitch. yWhile thisparticular type of machine has been disclosed it should be borne in mindthat by a substitution of a conventional bobbin and associated looperwheel it is possible to convert the stitching machine to one making alock stitch. Since such variation willreadily be known to those skilledin the art lfurther ampliiication 'on this point will not be given inthis specification.

A means is provided for pulling the top thread tight after the loop hasbeen operated on by the looper 51. This means includes a lever 6| formedwith an eye portion 6 |a at one end through which the thread 52 engages.The middle of the lever 5I is pivotally supported by a pintle 62 mountedin the bracket 36."

The rear end of theA lever 5| engages the underside of the lever 3l. Theparts are so proportioned that the lever 6| will act to pull the thread52 tight at the correct instant. The thread 52' extends from the spool52 through a stationary guide element 52b mounted upon the inner wall ofthe casing, then continues out through an opening 52EL formed in thewall of the casing, then continues through the eye portion 6|, andfinally through the eye of. the needle I2. The front end of the lever 6|passes through an` opening SIb formed In the bottom wallof the arm I0Elof the casing I0.

A means is also provided forctensloning the spool 52. This meansincludes a tension springA 1| engaging against a face of the spool 52.This spring 'II is mounted on the spindle 5|. as previously explained,The spool 52 may be tensioned by the proper operation of the nut 53. l

The operation of the device is as follows:

The press-stitcher sewing machine is held in ones hand as illustrated inFig. 1. Cloth material to be sewn is placed in between the arms |||a andIb of the casing beneath the pressure foot I8.l

The pressure foot I8 may be momentarily raised to permit the properengagement of the 'cloth material in position. 'I'he thumb wheel 43 isthen turned in the proper direction to start the sewing machine. T'hepower is then applied by pressing down with the thumb or finger on theneedle bar |I and reciprocating this bar as previously described. Thisreciprocative motion operates the sewing machine by driving the shaft3|. Rotation of the shaft 3| operates the looper wheel 51 and the feedermechanism, and the thread puller lever 6|. The sewing machine is nowoperating.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and. the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the inventionasdelined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is: A

1. A press-stitcher sewing machine, comprising a substantially U-shapedcasing adapted to be engaged in ones hand with the arms thereof extendedhorizontally and ones thumb or other linger at the top, cloth feedermeans mounted in the bottom arm of said casing and extendable throughthe top face thereof,'pressure foot means mountedon the top arm of saidcasing and acting against said cloth feeder means, a needle bar meansmounted through the top arm of-said cas- A ing and supporting a needleengageable through apertures in the` pressure` foot and feeder andhaving an upwardly extending portion, a member mounted upon the end ofsaid upwardly extending portion and upon which ones thumb may be engagedfor urging said needle bar downwards to engage said needle through theapertures in said pressure foot and feeder, a resilient means forreturning said needle barto its normal position when the pressure onsaid member is released,

a block mounted in the bottom arm, a shaft rotative through said block,a looper wheel mounted on said shaft in a position to be cooperativewith said needle, a flywheel mounted on the rear end of said shaft, aneccentric rod connected with said ilywheeLa pivotally mounted leverconnected with said rod and with said needlel bar, thread holding andguiding means, and a thread puller synchronized with saidneedle bar.

2. A 'press-stitcher sewing machine, comprising a substantially U-shapedcasing adapted to be engaged in ones hand with the arms thereof extendedhorizontally and ones thumb or other linger at the top, an adjustablecloth feeder means mounted in the bottom arm of said casing andextendable through the top face thereof, pressure foot means mounted onthe top arm of said casing and acting against said cloth feeder means, aneedle bar means mounted through the top arm of said casing andsupporting a needle engageable through apertures in the pressure footand feeder and having an upwardly extending portion, a member mountedupon the end of said upwardly extending portion and upon which onesthumb may be engaged for urging said needle bar downwards to engage saidneedle through the apertures in said pressure foot and feeder, aresilient means for returning said needle bar to its'normal 'positionwhen the pressure on said member is released,` a block mounted in thebottom arm, a shaftrotative through said block, a looper wheel mountedon said shaft in a position to be cooperative with said needle, aflywheelv a substantiallygU-shaped casing adapted to be engaged in oneshand with the arms thereof extended horizontally andi ones thumb orvother fingerI at the top, cloth feeder means mounted in the bottom armof said casing and extendable through the topface thereof, pressure footmeans mounted on the top arm of said casing and acting against saidcloth feeder means, a needle bar means mounted through the top arm ofsaid casing and supporting aneedle engageable through apertures in thepressure foot and feeder and having an upwardly extending portion, amem- Y ber mounted upon the end of said upwardly extending portion andupon which ones thumb may Y be engaged for urging said needle bardownwards to engage saidneedle through the apertures 'in said pressurefoot and feeder, a resilient means 5 for returning said needle bar toits normal position when the pressure on said member is released.. ablock mounted in the bottom arm, a shaft rotative through said block, alooper wheel mounted on said shaft in a position to be cooper-rv 10ative with said needle, a flywheel mounted on the 15 puller synchronizedrear end of said shaft, an eccentric rod connected v with saidflywheel.. a pivotally mounted lever foot means'and engaging through aslot in said casing, a nut nxed on said stem and adapted to 20,' holdthe pressure footin a raised position.

4. A press-stitcher sewing machine, comprising asubstantially U-shapedcasing adaptedtol be engaged in ones hand with the arms thereof extendedhorizontally` and ones thumb or other 2s finger atthe top, cloth feedermeans mounted in 8l extending portion 70 to engage said needle e saidpressure foot and feeder. a resilient means 7g shaft rotative throughsaid blocs. a looper wheel socomprisins Il ing a substantially U-shapedd5 apertures in the bottom arm of said casing and extendable through thetop face thereof pressure foot means mounted on the top arm of saidcasing and acting againstesaid' cloth` feeder means, a needle 'hat'l $0means mounted through the top arm of said casing and supporting a'needle engageable through-apertures in the pressure foot and feeder andhaving an upwardly extending portion, a

member mounted upon the end of said upwardly may be engaged for urgingsaid needle bar downwards to engage said Vneedle through the aperturesin said pressure foot and feeder. a resilient.

means-for returning said needle bar'to its nor- 40 mal position whenthepressure on said member is released,a block mounted in the bottomarm;

a shaft rotative through said block. a looper wheel mounted on saidshaft in a position to be cooperative with said needle. a flywheelmounted on the rear end of said shaft, an eccentric rod connected withsaid flywheel.I a pivotally mounted lever connected with said rod andwith said needle bar. thread holding and guiding means, and a threadpuller synchronized with saidneedle bar.

` a thread puller lever pivotally mounted and having a loop throughwhich the needle thread passes and synchronizes with Asaid needle bar.

5. A press-stitcher sewing machine, compriscasing adapted to be engagedin ones hand with the Y extended "horizontally and ones thuxnbor otherfinger at the top, cloth feeder means mounted in thebottom arm of saidcasing and extendable s0 through the top face thereof. pressure footmeans mounted on the top arm of said casing and acting against saidcloth feeder means,A a needle bar means mounted through'the top arm ofsaid casing andsupporting a needle engageable through the pressure footand feeder and having an upwardly extending portion', a member mountedupon the end. of said upwardly extending portion and upon which onesthumb may be engaged for urging said ne'edle bar downwards through theapertures in for returning said needle bar to its' normal positionwhen'fthe pressure on-said member is released. a block mounted in thebottom arm. a

said

and upon which ones thumb arms thereof i and connected' with tive withsaid needle, a 'ilywheel mounted on the rear end of said shaft, aneccentric rod connected with said ywheel. a pivotally mounted leverconnectedwith said rod and with said needle bar. threadholding andguiding means, and a thread puller synchronized with said needle bar,comprising a thread puller lever pivotally mounted and having a looppasses and one end of said thread puller lever being in contact withsaid rst named lever to be moved thereby.

6. A press-stitches' sewing machine, comprising a substantially.U-shaped casing adapted to be engaged in ones hand with the arms thereofextended horizontally and ones thumb or other finger at the top, clothfeeder means mounted in the bottom. arm of said casing and extendablethrough the top face thereof, pressure foot means ,mounted on the toparm of said casing and act'- having an upwardly extending portin, amember ,mounted upon the end of-said upwardly extending portion and uponwhich ones thumb may be engaged for urging said needle bar downwards tothrough which the thread engage said needle through the apertures insaidl pressure foot and feeder, a resilient means for returning saidneedle bar to its normal position when the pressure on said member isreleased. a block mounted in the bottom arm, ashaft ro'- tative throughsaid block; a looper wheel`mounted on said shaft in a position to becooperative with said needle, a flywheel mounted on. the rear end ofsaid shaft, an eccentric rod connected with said lflywheel. a pivotallymounted lever connected with said rod and with said needle bar,v threadholding and guiding means, a puller synchronized with said shaft, and athumb wheel rotatively and pivotally supported. geared with saidilywheel and movable to a position out of connection therewith.

1. A'press-stitcherv sewing machine,l comprising a substantiallyVU-shaped casing adapted to be engaged in ones hand with the armsthereof extended horizontally and ones thumb or other finger at the top,cloth feeder means mounted in the bottom arm of s aid casing andextendable through the top face thereof, pressure foot means mounted onthe top arm of said casing and acting against said barmeans mounted'through thetop arm of said casing and supporting a needle engageablethrough apertures in the pressure foot and feeder and having anupwardlyextending portion. a

Y member' mounted upon the end of said upwardly vextending portion andupon which ones thumb may be engaged for urging said needle bardownwards to engage said needle through the apertures in said pressurefoot and feeder, a resilient means for returning said needle bar to itsnormal position when the pressure on said member is re- 'leased, a blockmounted in the bottom arm. a

"needle bar, threadholding and guiding means.- a

said shaft, and

thread puller synchronized with a thumb wheel rotatively and pivotallysupported said flywheel and movable said shaft in a position to becosaid needle. a flywheel mounted cloth feeder means, a needle aisance it 5 to a position outl oi' therewith,the' ion mounted coaxial with saidflywheel and periphery of said thumbwheei being formed with meshing withsaidlg'ear teeth, and said thumb the mesh ot the gear teeth with saidpinion. and resilient means for urging said shaft to dis- 8. Apress-stitcher sewing machine, comprising connect said gears.

a substantially U-shaped casing adapted to be 9. Apress-stitcher sewingmachine, comprising engaged in ones hand with the arms thereof asubstantially U-shaped casing adapted to be extended horizontally andones thumb. or other engaged in ones hand with the arms thereof ex- 'm'Y nger at the top, cloth feeder means mounted tended horizontally andones thumb or other in the bottom arm of said casing and extendlinger atthe to cloth i'eedermeans mounted in able through the top face thereof,pressure foot the bottom ann oi said casing and extendablev meansmounted on the top arm of said casingl through the top face thereof,pressure foot means and acting against said cloth feeder means, a Y

needle bar means mounted through the top arm ing against said cloth.feeder means, a needle bar of said casing and supporting a needleengagemeans mounted through the top arm of said castion, a membermounted upon the end of said vhaving an upwardly extending portion, amem- 20- 'siiient means for returning said needle bar to tures insaidpressure foot and feeder, a resilient 25 tion to be cooperative withsaid needle, a ily# mounted on said shaft in a position to be co- 3 0wheel being formed with gen teem, e pm-` i o i N. '40

